Friedaherz

Questions that move the world. The world of perfume. Or at least me.

Why actually? Why do I start after my long comment break with a fragrance that is extremely atypical for me?

Because it stings me? Because it doesn't suit me? Because it has that hated aftershave note? Because it's still in my collection? Because not everything is always easy and uncomplicated? Because I don't own a single Acqua di Parma fragrance? Because there's hardly a note in it that I like? Questions upon questions...

Sometimes we are drawn to scents that do not reflect our fragrance preferences at all. But isn't that also the case in real life? I hope so, because otherwise one would be predictable, conventional, boring, and might always smell the same.

For some, this might mean security, but for me, it's rigid and suffocating. And although I have always identified more with the somewhat depressed or notoriously gloomy donkey in the story of Pooh, the bear, I might want to let the cheerful, happy, and uncomplicated bear shine through sometimes.

Translation: The scent starts off so honey-heavy for me that I can hardly get the image of Pooh, the bear, with honey around his snout and the honey pot in his paws out of my head. But wait, gradually I see Eeyore peeking through in his hut made of branches and sticks. They alternate back and forth, always one of them is present.
And after 1-2 hours, the scent rewards me with the image of Eeyore after the rain in his dripping wet, but still existing hut with the words: "Thank you for noticing me."

The aftershave note that is too strong for me after spraying, which fortunately fades later, leads me to reflect on the second part of my title: do young pubescent bears actually use aftershave?

With a small sample of the fragrance Lampone, Fior di Mielo e Semi di Cacao by Borsari, my renewed journey into the world of scents began a few years ago. I still have my "old fragrance collection from the late eighties and early nineties," but now I was completely caught up in the fragrance craze. I find this hobby so exciting and have already infected my whole family with it. Many of the scents that weren't quite my style suited my daughter well. My son now has a larger fragrance collection, and even my husband, who had hardly ever worn perfume until a few years ago, now owns a total of 7 fragrances, which he uses all the time.

So, somehow I got my hands on this sample (I didn’t know parfumo back then) and was thrilled by the scent. Unfortunately, the Borsari brand was not offered anywhere near us. But a small perfumery in Munich carried this fragrance line. So, off I went to Munich, which isn't that far from NRW. The really friendly owner joyfully presented the Borsari fragrances to me. At that time, I bought the Lampone scent and received a sample of the Calla scent as a gift (which I found too intense back then - I should try it again today) and also had the Rosa e Pepe on my skin. And somehow, it never really left me over the years.

Gradually, more and more Borsari fragrances joined my collection. And some time ago, the Floralia line from Borsari, which wasn’t listed on parfumo at all, came into my possession. I submitted the four fragrances, but I couldn’t find any information on the fragrance notes for Rosa Regina. However, during the processing, someone must have found the details, and the fragrance notes were listed. And what did I see: the same pyramid as with Rosa e Pepe. Hmm, how did that smell again? The test was a long time ago, but the scent was still on my watchlist. And no one on parfumo owns the fragrance - what a hassle! That kind of thing keeps me restless, I can't have that... Yes, and then I just bought Rosa e Pepe! And tested both together!

I have now worn the Floralia - Rosa Regina several times. It starts off quite peppery for me with a strong, fruity note; I wouldn’t have picked out mandarin, but it could be there. After a while, the perfume changes on my skin to a slightly (flower) compost-like note. This initially irritated and unsettled me during the first few wears, but I have now really gotten used to it. Shortly after, the scent lingers beautifully on me with a wonderful strong rose note, changing its character, dancing with me, bringing out the pepper again, going up and down, not linear for me. So, this is not a scent for people who don’t like development; at least for me, the fragrance really takes off. I like it! I am very satisfied with the scent!

You can read about my experience with the newly acquired Rosa e Pepe in Borsari versus Borsari, Round 1. Or not…

With a small sample of the fragrance Lampone, Fior di Mielo e Semi di Cacao from Borsari, my renewed journey into the world of scents began a few years ago. I still own my "old fragrance collection from the late eighties and early nineties," but now I was completely caught up in the fragrance craze. I find this hobby so exciting and have already infected my whole family with it. Many of the scents that weren't quite my style suited my daughter well. My son now has a larger fragrance collection, and even my husband, who hardly ever wore perfume until a few years ago, now owns a total of 7 fragrances, which he actually uses.

So, somehow I got my hands on this sample (I didn't know parfumo back then) and was thrilled by the scent. Unfortunately, the Borsari brand was not available anywhere near us. But a small perfumery in Munich carried this fragrance line. So off I went to Munich, which isn't that far from NRW. The very friendly owner joyfully introduced me to the Borsari fragrances. At that time, I bought the Lampone scent and received a sample of the Calla scent as a gift (which I found too intense back then - I should try it again today) and also had the Rosa e Pepe on my skin. And somehow, it just never really left me all these years.

Gradually, more and more Borsari fragrances joined my collection. And some time ago, the Floralia line from Borsari, which wasn't even listed on parfumo, came into play. I submitted the four fragrances, but I couldn't find any information about the notes for the Rosa Regina scent. However, during the processing, someone must have found it, and the notes were listed. And what did I see: the same pyramid as the Rosa e Pepe. Hmm, how did that one smell again? The test was long ago, but the scent was still on my watchlist. And no one on parfumo owns the scent - what a shame! Such things keep me up at night; I can't have that... Yes, and then I just bought the Rosa e Pepe! And tested both together!

What can I say! Somehow I'm a bit disappointed now! The scent that was beautifully etched in my memory has unfortunately lost its "wonder." It is nice. But it pales in comparison to the Floralia - Rosa Regina. What I can sniff on my left arm, you can best read about in Floralia - Rosa Regina.

On my right arm, I smell a slightly peppery, mandarin, lightly sparkling scent from Rosa e Pepe. Yes, and it stays that way; unfortunately, not much happens. Sometimes a light peppery scent wafts past my nose, sometimes a brief lipstick accord, but that's about it. What a pity - I had such a BEAUTIFUL memory of it. That's how it goes. To be honest, I could have saved myself this purchase! But I had to know. In fairness to the comparison, one must/can consider that Rosa e Pepe is a Cologne, while the other rose scent is an Eau de Toilette. But on the other hand, that doesn't diminish the strength of the other Borsari fragrances, like the Black Calla; that's certainly not the issue.

What can you do, every little drop finds its lid - or vice versa!

After reading the first comment by Ernstheiter about the fragrance Iris Mater here on parfumo, the scent made its way onto my wishlist at that time. Iris - bone-dry, those were words that made my heart race.

But, as it often goes, another inspiration came along, there was no time - and the fragrance fell into oblivion. However, since it was on my wishlist, I automatically got the next comment under my nose and thus, with some lovely support, also the fragrance. Particularly significant, aside from the dryness of the iris, was the mention of the violet in the second comment for me.

Ernstheiter writes in his comment about the bone-dry landscape of Tuscany.

For me, the scent evokes a completely different association. Perhaps you remember from your childhood the fairy tale of the Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen. Maybe even the animated film that was broadcast on television in the 70s. In any case, the scent reminds me exactly of this fairy tale. A spritz of Iris Mater triggers this metallic cold in me, which even makes me shiver a little. Just faintly, the scent of the rosebush, under which Gerda and Kay spend their time playing together in the story, before Kay is struck by the devil's splinter. But above all, this iron cold. This aspect of the fragrance slightly reminds me of Sartorial by Penhaligon’s or Snow by DFL, both of which develop a metallic scent on me - without putting the three fragrances in direct comparison.

For me, fragrances either unleash a story or an idea - or nothing at all!

With Iris Mater, it’s the fairy tale of the Snow Queen that comes to mind during the test. And even the ending fits. Because in the end, a light, beautiful floral note appears on my skin from Iris Mater, which brings warmth. Fitting for the fairy tale, in which the children return home after melting the ice with Gerda's tears.

Just as we like it in the fairy tale and, of course, in real life: all's well that ends well!

And in the end, I am glad that I got to test it. Because Iris Mater is not what I imagined under the (dry) iris. Nor under the violet leaf. And since I own Sartorial and Snow, I feel sufficiently covered in terms of metallic scents.

The craftsmanship and the story behind the fragrance are certainly very good and definitely worth a test!

Dear Leonessa, dear Ernstheiter, you did it - FINALLY, I have written a comment again. I always find it so difficult to put my impressions into words. But then it’s incredibly fun! Thank you for that!

6 reasons why I now own this fragrance:

1) I found the packaging in the store so beautiful!
2) The magically appealing word "vanilla" is on the packaging!
3) It’s an Ulric de Varens fragrance,
4) so the scent can really be good despite the low price of just about 7,--€/100ml.
5) My phone battery was once again dead and I couldn't research.
6) There was no tester to try the fragrance.

Why this fragrance is really for me, even though I almost dropped the bottle in shock after unpacking it (not that it would have been such a big deal, it’s so incredibly ugly):

For a long time, I was tempted to test the fragrance Eau de Zwitsal in the Netherlands. I really wanted a baby powder scent, especially one that was nicely packaged. But something about this fragrance always held me back from buying it. It smelled a bit like a baby diaper just used after feeding, not like a creamed, powdered, clean baby bottom.

And now, the Ciel, for me now "Eau de" Ciel: it smells exactly like Eau de Zwitsal without the used diaper! Good heavens! What a thing!

It’s not that this is my absolute favorite fragrance, as I have too many favorites in my collection. But I was so pleased with the discovery of my "Eau de" Ciel. I never have to do the Eau de Zwitsal test again (because I really want a baby powder scent) and can simply leave the fragrance aside without regret.

I’ve won again! Hooray! Thank heavens!